Sign



5613i. 7, 1937. M, GLOGAU 2,092,247

SIGN

Filed Sept. 18, 1956 INVENTOR.

Manfred L- 670 aa ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES "PAT ENT OFFICE SIGN Manfred L. Glogau, Chicago, Ill. Application September 18, 1936, Serial N o.-101,407

5 Claims.

. The invention relates to signs and more particularly to advertising .signs illuminated with changeable colors.

Illuminated advertising signs, such as neon signs, are known where a single color is produced byithe gas fillingthe tube. If more than one color is desired, additional tubes, wiring and switches are required, thus necessitating an additional system for each additional color.

Neon signs have the further disadvantages that special insulation is necessary for all current carrying parts; that the sign parts easily break; that the changing of the legend of a sign is accompanied by great difliculty.

It, therefore, constitutes the principal object of my invention to provide an illuminated advertising sign which is highly efficient and possesses none of the disadvantages hereinabove pointed out.

A further object aims at providing a sign wherein a white light is deflected from a colored mirror or screen then concentrated and radiated to illuminate the sign proper.

A further object aims at providing the sign with letters or symbols in the form of lenses capable of radiating the retracted colored light.

It is a further object to provide the letters or symbols either as tubes or rods having a circular or convex cross section, and which may be easily changed.

With these and other equally important objects in view, which will become apparent from a perusal of the invention, the latter comprises the means described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part thereof, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sign constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through two types of lenses used with the sign.

The sign comprises a housing composed of a bottom I 0 having at its longitudinal edges upstanding flanges H. A top wall l2, parallel to the bottom wall and co-extensive therewith, has downwardly extending flanges l3, flush with the flanges I I. To the flanges H and I3 are secured, at their inner ends, longitudinal members l4 conwhich are mounted letters or symbols l6, l1, and I8 constituting the advertisement.

As shown, the letters are constructed with convex cross section to provide optical lenses capable of transmitting and refracting light. The lenses may be of solid material such as glass or certain kind of bakelite or they may be of tubing filled with a fluid having a high coeificient of light refraction.

In Fig. 3 lenses I 9 and 20 are shown in cross section which may be used with the sign to obtain proper refraction. Inside the housing are four rollers 2|, 22, 23 and 24, which are mounted in rectangular formation and one roller 2| is provided with a pulley 25 to: which rotative power is transmitted from a motor (not shown).

An endless band 26, constituting a mirror or screen, encompasses the roller and is driven thereby. The band is made of shiny material such as metal and is made up in sections 21, 28, 29 and 30, which are of diiTerent colors.

It is, of course, within the scope of the invention to increase the number of sections of the endless band 26 and therewith the variety of colors to suit special requirements.

Between the endless band 25 and the wall of the housing, preferably near each corner, is a light source 3| surrounded by a reflector 32 capable of directing the white light rays unto the mirror 26.

The reflectors 32 are adapted to deflect the light rays against the mirror under such an angle that the reflected rays pass through the letters or symbols.

The distance between the light source and illuminated parts is determined by the focus of the system.

In use, the mirror 26, constructed as a flexible metal band of various colors, is continuously actuated and the white light or reflection from the mirror passes as colored light through the letters. The greater the speed with which the mirror is actuated, the quicker the change of color is obtained.

If the surface of the mirror is rough, eifects can be produced to give the impression of a flow of difierent colored fluid in the rods or tubing constituting the letters or symbols. If the light source is shut off at the end of a color section and the next color section comes into the field of radiation, when the light is then turned on, the change of color occurs suddenly, thus enhancing the attractiveness of the sign.

Normally the constant rotation of the mirror will produce a gradual change of color.

While the drawing discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I, therefore, do not limit myself to details of construction or arrangement of parts, but claim my invention as broadly as the state of the art permits.

I claim:

1. A sign including an opaque wallhaving transparent letters, a multi-colored opaque mirror movable parallel to said wall at the rear thereof, a light source, and a reflector for said light source to cause the rays to be reflected from said mirror for direct radiation through said letters, said light source and said reflector being on the outer side of said mirror.

2. A sign including spaced opaque walls having transparent letters, an endless band constituting a multi-colored opaque mirror between said bands and movable in paths sections parallel to said walls, and means for reflecting white light onto said mirror for direct radiation through said letters, said light source and said reflector being on the outer side of said mirror.

3. A sign including a wall composed of removable opaque panels having transparent letters,

a multi-colored opaque mirror movable parallel to said wall and at the rear thereof, a light source, and a reflector for said light source to cause the rays to be reflected from said mirror for direct radiation through said letters, said light source and said reflector being on the outer side of said mirror.

4. A sign including an opaque wall having transparent letters, a multi-colored opaque mirror movable substantially parallel to said wall at the rear thereof, a light source, and a reflector for said light source to cause the rays to be reflected from said mirror for direct radiation through said letters, said light source and said reflector being on the outer side of said mirror.

5. A sign including an opaque wall having transparent letters, said letters comprising a transparent rod constructed as a lens, a multicolored opaque mirror movable substantially parallel to said wall at the rear thereof, a light source, and a reflector for said light source to cause the rays to be reflected from said mirror for direct radiation through said letters, said light source and said reflector being on the outer side of said mirror.

MAN'ERED L. GLOGAU. 

